The most usual continuation here is 6...Nfd7.

A short overview of the major possibilities:

A) 7.g4 f6 8.g5 c6 9.gxf6 gxf6 10.Rg1 Na6 11.Be3 Ke8 12.Bh3 Ndc5=;
B) 7.Be3 f6 8.0-0-0 c6 9.g4 Kc7 10.h4 (10.Rg1 Nb6) 10...Nb6 11.Bxb6+ axb6 12.Bh3 Be6 13.Nd2 Bb4 14.g5 f5∞;
C) 7.g3 f6 8.Bg2 c6 9.0-0 Kc7=;
D) 7.Bd2 f6! 8.0-0-0 Na6 9.g4 c6 10.g5 Ndc5 11.Rg1 Ke8 12.b3 Bf5 13.Kb2 Rd8=, as indicated by Stohl for
ChessBase.
The experimental approach 6...Nc6 has been suggested by the late Moldavian trainer Chebanenko. More on that idea
in the illustrative game Gheorghiu-Titov. Bronstein goes his own way, as usual.

7.g3

The critical strategic idea for White in this structure is the advance g2-g4, as is also clear from the lines with 6...
Nfd7. But it does not seem to do much damage, e.g. 7.Rg1 Bb4!? 8.Bd2 Re8 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Ne4 11.Rc1 a5
12.g4 Ra6 13.Nd2 Ndc5 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bg2 Nxc3 16.Rxc3 and Black had no problems, Sliwa-Fuderer,
Gothenburg Interzonal 1955; 7.Bg5 should be answered satisfactorily by 7...c6 or 7...Bb4; but not 7...Be7?! 8.0-0-0.

7...Bc5 8.Ng5 Ke7 9.Bg2 h6 10.Nge4 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 a5 13.Nc3 c6 14.0-0 Nb6 15.b3 Rd8 16.Be1
Bc5 17.Ne4 Bd4 18.Rc1 Bf5

Black has mobilised all of his pieces. If White is not careful, Black can start thinking about how to use White’s
queenside pawns as a target. For the moment however, White is OK.

19.e3 Bb2 20.Rb1 Ba3 21.Bc3 f6 22.Rbd1 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Nd7 24.f4 Bg4 25.Re1 Bb4! 26.Rc1

26.Bxb4+ axb4 fixes the pawn on a2.

26...Bxc3 27.Rxc3 Bf5 28.c5 Bxe4 29.Bxe4 exf4 30.gxf4

30.exf4 and centralising the king is an idea.

White should not collapse so quickly from this position, but it has some unbalancing factors, such as bishop versus
knight, and the pawn structure on the kingside. In such cases the better player tends to have the better chances.

30...Ke6! 31.Kf2 g5

31...f5 and ...g7-g5 also looks sensible.

32.a3

32.fxg5? hxg5 targets h2 and gives up the square e5.

32...f5 33.Bf3 Nf6 34.Rd3

34.fxg5?! hxg5 is clearly better for Black due to his centralised pieces and better pawn structure.

34...Ke7 35.Rd2 Rd8! 36.Ke2?

36.Rxd8 Kxd8 saves time but Black is safely in control.

36...g4 37.Bg2 Rxd2+ 38.Kxd2 Ke6 39.Kd3 h5 40.Kd4 h4

Winning.

41.h3

The game was probably adjourned here. White resigned as 41...gxh3 42.Bxh3 Ne4 and 43...Nf2 is decisive.

0-1

Game 3
Florin Gheorghiu 2515
German Titov 2319
Moscow 1989 (1)

1.d4 d6
1...Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Nf3 is the usual move-order to reach the position after
White’s 6th move.

2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.Qxd8+ Kxd8 5.Nc3 Nf6?!

Opting for a transposition to the Old Indian, where the lines require a large degree of accuracy. The alternatives
5...c6 and 5...Be6 have been played more often in this move-order and are easier to handle.

6.Nf3 Nc6!?

This cheeky move is an interesting experimental alternative to the usual continuations 6...Nbd7 and 6...Nfd7 and
stems from the fertile mind of the Moldavian trainer and analyst Chebanenko. It is not a surprise that Titov was
among his students. The line requires more accurate and original handling than the usual positions where Black
plays ...c7-c6 and ...Kc7, but it is an interesting alternative. We would not necessarily recommend it as Black’s main
line, but it is a nice example of a sideline which can be wheeled out occasionally as a surprise weapon, especially if
the opponent is suspected of being well-prepared for the main lines.

7.Bg5

This may be best. Chebanenko’s original idea was to counter 7.Ng5 Ke7 8.Nb5 (8.b3 h6) with 8...h6 9.Nf3 Kd8.

7...Be6 8.0-0-0+ Kc8 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.e3

10...f5?!

This move overestimates his position. Black should have prepared ...f7-f5 with the cautious 10...h6, for example
11.g3 Be7 (11...f5 12.Bh3 Be7 13.e4 seems advantageous for White) 12.Nd5 Bd8 and although White may be
slightly better, Black keeps things under control.

11.Ng5! Be7 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Be2

Engines indicate that 13.g4 is very strong now.

13...b6

Maybe Black can try 13...Rg8 14.g4 (14.g3) 14...b6 15.c5 Kb7 instead?

14.g4

14.c5 looks strong, when Black may be barely able to hold after 14...Kb7 (14...Bxc5 15.Ba6+ Kb8 16.Rd7 looks
promising for White) 15.cxb6 axb6 16.Bc4 Rhg8 17.Rd7!.

14...Kb7 15.h4 h6 16.gxf5 exf5

Black has more or less equalised now.

17.Bh5 Raf8 ½-½

Game 4
Ivan Cheparinov 2089
Clemens Werner 2314
Wijk aan Zee C 2000 (1)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nf3 c6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bg5

Less logical than after ...e7-e5 because Black’s position is less committed, as the game shows.

5...h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Nh5

Compared to the King’s Indian Black has gained a tempo by playing ...g7-g5 in one move, on the other hand he has
already committed his c-pawn.

8.e3 Bg7 9.Qc2 Nxg3 10.hxg3 e6

It is not clear this is necessary, so maybe 10...Nf6. But in either case, Black has his chances, with the two bishops
and intact light squares.

11.Bd3 Qe7 12.0-0-0 Nf6 13.Nd2 Bd7 14.Nde4

Going for the dark squares, but 14.Nb3!? 0-0-0 15.c5 may be a better idea to play for an edge.

14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 f5!

Hitting the knight before any damage can be done. Black seems fine now.

16.Nc3 0-0-0

17.g4

This comes across as rather extreme. White’s play against d6 is not sufficient to compensate for the pawn.

17...fxg4 18.Ne4 Kb8 19.c5 d5 20.Nd6 Rhf8 21.Rhe1 Bc8 22.Nxc8

A declaration of the bankruptcy of his idea, but what else was there left to do? 22.e4? loses outright after 22...Bxd4
23.Rd2 Bxc5, and after 22.Re2, even the sacrifice 22...Rxd6 23.cxd6 Qxd6 gives Black all the chances.

22...Rxc8 23.Rh1 Qf6 24.Rdf1 e5

White is more or less busted.

25.f3 g3 26.dxe5 Qxe5 27.Re1 Rcd8 28.Rhf1 Rfe8 29.Re2 Qf6 30.Rd1 Re5 31.Kb1 Rde8 32.Rde1 Qe7 33.f4
gxf4 34.exf4 Rxe2 35.Rxe2 Qf8 36.Bg6 Rxe2 37.Qxe2 a5 38.Bd3 Qxc5 39.f5 Qd4 40.Kc1 Ka7 41.Qd2 Kb6
42.Qe2 Bf6 43.a3 Qg1+ 44.Kc2 a4 45.Qd2 Qf2 46.Qe2 Kc5 47.Kc1 Bg5+ 48.Kc2 Kd4 0-1

Main line Be2

 Game 5
Roland Beyen
Boris Spassky
Leningrad W-ch tt U26 1960 (9)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 Nbd7 4.Nc3 e5 5.e4 Be7 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.d5

8...Ne8!?

Black has several choices here. The immediate 8...c5 is perfectly sound – Black reaches a Czech Benoni where he is
a tempo down (having played ...c7-c6-c5 in two moves rather than one), but White has chosen a harmless set-up, and
the position is closed anyway. Alternatively, perhaps the logical continuation is 8...Nc5 9.Qc2 (9.Nd2 a5 10.b3, was
played in Petrosian-Larsen, Beverwijk 1960, when Larsen later recommended to play 10...Ne8! in his Skakskole
series) 9...cxd5 10.cxd5 Qc7 11.Nd2 Bd7 12.a4 Rac8 13.Ra3 Ne8 14.Qd1 Bg5 15.b4 Na6 16.Qb3 f5 17.Nc4 Bxc1
18.Rxc1 fxe4 19.Nxe4 Bf5 20.Ng3 Qd7 21.h3 Nf6 22.Raa1 Bg6 23.Ne3 Rxc1+ 24.Rxc1 Rc8
Kasparov-Larsen, Bugojno 1982, where White played in typical style with the sacrificial 25.Rc6!?. Black should
probably have been cautious with 25...Nc7! 26.Rc3 Nce8, which is solid enough. Instead, true to his nature, he took
up the gauntlet and eventually lost.

9.Ne1

It was probably Spassky’s intention to transpose into a Czech Benoni with 9.Be3 c5, preparing kingside play with
...g7-g6, ...Ng7 and ...f7-f5.

9...Bg5

Gets rid of his so-called bad bishop – another typical idea in such positions.

10.Nd3 Bxc1 11.Rxc1 c5 12.Bg4

Why not? White also sees a chance to exchange his ‘bad bishop’.

12...Nef6 13.Bh3

Refraining from 13.Bxd7 Bxd7 which creates an imbalance, and is advantageous for the stronger player with the
black pieces.

13...a6 14.Qe2 b5!?

Livening up the game with a dynamic pawn sacrifice.

15.cxb5 axb5 16.b4?

He should have taken the principled decision and captured the pawn. After 16.Nxb5 Qb6 17.Nc3 (17.Na3 Ba6 with
compensation) 17...c4 18.Ne1 Nc5 19.Bxc8 Rfxc8 Black has sufficient counterplay against White’s queenside.

16...Qb6 17.Bxd7

Also after 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.Rc2 b4 Black has the upper hand.

17...Nxd7 18.bxc5?! dxc5 19.Qb2?! b4

With 20...Ba6 coming White is in big trouble.

20.Nb1 Ba6 21.Rfd1

21...f5!

The initiative spreads all over the board with Spassky hammering away at White’s position.

22.exf5?!

22.Nxe5 Qf6! 23.Nc4 Qxb2 24.Nxb2 fxe4 (24...Bb5 25.e5! Rxa2 26.Nc4 Bxc4 27.Rxc4 Nxe5 28.Rxc5 is less clear)
25.a3 Rab8 is close to winning.

22...Rxf5 23.a3 Raf8

Faced with the lethal threat 24...c4 and with 24.f3 Bxd3 losing at once, White threw in the towel.

0-1

Game 6
Wolfgang Uhlmann 2505
Andrew Martin 2415
Dieren 1990 (5)

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 d6 3.Nf3 Nd7 4.d4 c6 5.e4 Ngf6 6.Be2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.b4

Gaining space on the queenside. Black’s next looks logical, but, as discussed below, Black tried to refute 8.b4 in the
later game Martin-Morrison.
Two other loose ends, moves that we do not see often: 8.Bg5 a6 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 Ng4 11.Bc1 b5 12.h3 Ngf6 13.a3
Nb6 14.Be3 Qc7 (beware of 14...Bd7? 15.Nxe5!±), and 8.h3 a6 9.a4!? (9.Re1 b5) 9...a5 10.Be3 exd4!? 11.Nxd4 Nc5
12.Qc2 Re8 and in both instances Black is doing OK.
8...a5

In a game played later that year Black went for a refutation with 8...d5!?.

analysis diagram

At first sight it seems White that has no satisfactory response, as the Be7 comes into the game, the Nc3 is exposed
and e4 is weak. But it is not quite so clear: 9.exd5 Bxb4 10.dxc6? (10.Qb3! seems like the only way to hold things
together, although Black has no problems at all, e.g. 10...Qa5 11.Bb2 exd4 (or 11...e4 12.Ne5 cxd5, which is also
fine) 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.Qc2 Qc7 with equal chances) 10...Bxc3 11.cxd7 Bxa1 12.dxc8=Q Rxc8 13.d5 e4 Martin-
Morrison, Eastbourne ch-GBR 1990. Black has simply won the exchange and should win the game.
Although not an outright refutation as such, 8...d5 seems a complete reply to the early 8.b4.

9.b5 Qc7 10.Re1 Re8 11.Rb1 Bf8

In the game, White is quicker than usual in getting active on the queenside, but even then, it is not clear that this
really amounts to anything.

12.Bf1 g6 13.Ba3

White tries to attack the square d6.

13...Nh5

This was Black’s idea in playing ...g7-g6. In certain circumstances, the knight can come to f4 and worry the white
king.

14.g3 Ng7

Now ...f7-f5 is on the agenda, especially once Uhlmann closes the centre with...

15.bxc6 bxc6 16.d5 c5 17.Bh3

A good move, because the white pawns are fixed on light squares, so it makes sense for White to exchange his light-
squared bishop. This is analogous to Black’s thematic plan of Bg5 in such positions.

17...f5

With counterplay.

18.Ng5

A standard idea after ...f7-f5; White targets the weakened e6-square.

18...Nb6 19.Qb3 Rb8 20.Na4 Be7 21.Bc1 Nd7 22.Qc2 Rxb1

Simplifying on the wing where White is attacking seems the right idea.

23.Qxb1 Nf6